It is perfectly true that the environmental health officer at Fenland Council, Rob Gibling, has indicated by letter, the mysterious water leak entering our cellar is contaminated.

However, his letter does make the point that these are interim results of the analysis of samples.

We, at Trinity, have yet to see any written evidence of the analysis carried out confirming these findings.

The structural engineer who is overseeing the subsidence repair work on our hall extension, Charles Tallack, believes the contamination is occurring much nearer home and points to a foul drain from our toilets damaged as the result of subsidence as the probable culprit.

The damaged drain could have been leaking into the surrounding soil for a considerable time before it was discovered.

Charles Tallack's view is that the water is probably not contaminated until it reaches that vicinity.

I find his theory a much more likely scenario but I hasten to add it is just a theory in the same way Mr Gibling's is, to add to the views of other people who have taken an interest in this fascinating story, including BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, who broadcast an interview based on your article with John Abbott last Friday.

John is convinced the source of our leak is The Hythe drain which runs along the High Street in front of our premises.

However, on at least two occasions since the leak was first discovered, officials from Anglian Water have visited and inspected The Hythe and declared that, in their opinion, it is not the source.

Incidentally, there are two closed drains which constitute The Hythe, one deals with sewage and the other surface water.

The surface water drain, after it's journey along the High Street, eventually exits into the River Nene at an outflow situated near March Library. At no point does it follow a route under our building.

Whilst we appreciate the contributions from official and non official sources to our dilemma, I have to make the point that we are no nearer a solution to finding the source of the water and cause of the contamination than we were six weeks ago.

This has now become a public health issue which we look to the combined resources of Fenland District Council and Anglian Water to resolve as a matter of urgency.

REG KEMP
Property Steward,
Trinity Church,
High Street, March